Ever have one of those weeks that you are just so incredibly grateful is over? That was my week last week. Nothing bad happened but gosh it was just so stinkin busy. I worked (3) late shifts, Mike was out of town one day, Elias started school, Colin started going to school multiple times a week, had a wedding on Saturday (that we barely made on time since I had to work), bought a new car, etc etc etc. It was just so ... full and frankly, I'm exhausted. To add to the exhaustion, I'm running the sold out hotel all week while the boss is out of town, so I'm working all 7ams for the first time since going back to work. Ugggg! Sorry Mike!! But at least I'll be home for dinners :)

Anyways onto the actual topic... First a recap of last week.

• Menu Planner: Manicotti, leftover Manicotti, chicken quesadillas, breakfast, whatever as Mike is out of town, bacon parmesan pasta, wedding
• Begin a Rubbermaid for Colin's summer clothes
• Put Elias' too small clothes away
• Do 1 Family Activity
• Complete 1 of my pins on pinterest
• Count/Roll up loose change and deposit into vacation account
• Big Household Project: fill at least 1 large trash bag with things to throw away

And now this week...

• Menu Planner: Bday Celebrations at Mom and Dads, Burgers, Italian Chicken, Pork Chops, Chicken Parm Casserole , left-overs, and restaurant
• Begin a Rubbermaid for Colin's summer clothes
• Put Elias' too small clothes away
• Count/Roll up loose change and deposit into vacation account
• Complete 1 pin from my Pinterest
• Mail out pictures
• Big Household Project(s): Clean up walnuts/drive-way, touch up dining room paint, fill at least 1 large trash bag with things to get rid of.

Elias - and Mommy - survived his first week! The first day was, obviously, the hardest and each day has been a little easier. He seems to be doing well there. His teacher, Ms. Kate, asks alot of questions about him and has asked each morning how we think he is doing and if it falls in line with his "normal." Most of his naps have been significantly shorter but I think his nap schedule has changed and he is adjusting to his newest "normal". They said we can bring his swaddle in and I think it's helped. When Mike picked up the boys on Wednesday, Elias was still sleeping and was going on a 3 1/2 hour nap! What's pretty cool is, even as infants, they have weekly lesson plans. Here is his Wednesday: Teacher(s): Ms. A, Ms. K, Ms. K

Monthly Theme: My Wonderful World

Weekly Theme: My School

Monthly Concepts: Jesus Loves Me

Author: Mem Fox

Book: Whoever You Are

Baby Sign: Banana

Colors: Blue

Character Trait: Friendliness

Woodland Focus Friend: Lyric and Faris

Sensory:

Explore tornado and rice tube

Social & Emotional:

Place baby in a bumbo next to a friend, encourage them to interact with each other

Gross/Fine Motor:

Work on rolling over with baby (which he did 3 times today unassisted!!!)

Music/Movement:

Sing "Wheels on the Bus" with the motions

Language/Cognitive:

Spanish Immersion

Here's a view of our conversation driving to school today

Colin: Know what I want to be when I grow up?
Mommy: What's that buddy?
Colin: A SUPER HERO! Not a naughty or a bad one but a nice super hero.
Mommy: I like nice super heros
Colin: Whatcha want to be when you grow up?

I want to say good question but instead

Mommy: ummmm a Mommy

Colin laughs

Colin: You are a Mommy.

pause

Colin: I know what you are going to be. A PRINCESS!
Mommy: A princess?
Colin: Yup! A beautiful princess and me, Daddy and Elias are going to be the Superheros who save you...

and the rest of the car ride we talked about what I was going to be saved from and how he was going to save me.

Crappy photo picture of Colin's bulletin board at school. His is the green circle towards the bottom that reads "A Nice Super Hero"

Life as a working mom hit hard last week. Probably didn't help that Elias decided to start NOT sleeping through the night anymore and protesting his naps unless he was held. While I was able to cross of most things on my list, I feel like I was just trying to keep my head above water most days. Despite my best intentions of following through on the scheduled menu plan, we failed. Epic-ly.

• Menu: Dinner at Mom and Dads, McDonalds, Carrabbas for Mike's birthday, burgers on the grill, Garlic Cheddar Chicken, Bacon Parmesan Pasta, and breakfast
• Create photobook - certificate expires 9/27 Still have money left, so need to make something else
• Make and freeze peach and pear baby food Also made sweet potatoes and a big batch of Apple Butter
• Complete coupon binder Not only made but used and loved
• Go through Colin's old clothes bins {again} and see if there is anything else Elias can wear
• Go to bed by 10pm and 11pm Not sure if I did this but I KNOW I was never in bed by 10pm
• Big Household Project: skipping something formal due to such a busy hectic week

This week is going to be even crazier,so I'm not going to give myself alot to do since I just simply don't have the free time.

• Menu Planner: Manicotti, leftover Manicotti, chicken quesadillas, breakfast, whatever as Mike is out of town, bacon parmesan pasta, wedding
• Begin a Rubbermaid for Colin's summer clothes
• Put Elias' too small clothes away
• Do 1 Family Activity
• Complete 1 of my pins on pinterest
• Count/Roll up loose change and deposit into vacation account
• Big Household Project: fill at least 1 large trash bag with things to throw away

Elias:

I wonder what you are doing right now,

And if everyone is treating you kind.

I hope there is a special person,

A nice friend you can find.

I wonder if your teacher knows

Just how special you are to me.

And if the brightness of your heart

Is something she can see.

I wonder if you are thinking of me,

And if you need a hug.

I already miss the sound of your voice

And how you give my finger a tug.

I wonder if you could possibly understand

How hard it is for me to let you grow

On this day know that my heart breaks

For this is the first step in letting my baby go.